Local modeling and advertising icon Sherry Lee dies

Stark County residents will gather tonight at Reed Funeral Home in Canton to say goodbye to local modeling and advertising icon Sherry Lee.

Times Reporter

Writer

Posted Feb. 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 6, 2013 at 6:22 AM

Posted Feb. 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 6, 2013 at 6:22 AM

Stark County residents will gather tonight at Reed Funeral Home in Canton to say goodbye to local modeling and advertising icon Sherry Lee.

Lee, 76, of Jackson Township, died Monday of complications from Parkinson’s Disease.

“Mom always wanted to appear to be incredibly strong, and until her illness, she was,” said son, Todd Bergmayr of Cincinnati. “Her death has been rough on all of us.”

According to another son Timothy “Tab” Bergmayr of Canton, Lee was diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 1990s. While the cancer was in remission, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

“She has been really, really sick for the past nine years,” he said.

Her maiden name was Larson and her married name was Bergmayr but she was known to most as Sherry Lee.

Remembered for her fiery red hair, she was a regular on local radio and a local TV personality, hosting “The Sherry Lee Show” on WJAN TV 17 and “Concept with Sherry Lee,” and “Top Priority” on WOAC TV 67. In 1987, she received an Ohio State Media Award.

Lee was a 1954 graduate of McKinley High School, where she was a majorette.

She attended Miami University, was a runner-up to Miss Ohio in 1955, and through her “Sherry Lee Finishing School,” which she operated for 40 years, she taught hundreds of young women the finer points of etiquette and prepared them for careers in modeling and pageants.

She started her career as Sherry Lee the Sealy Girl, a model for national Posturepedic mattress ad campaign.

She gave her time and resources to numerous charities including MDA, Vietnam Veterans of America, Shriners Hospital, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival, Spina Bifida, and many others. In 1992, she was inducted into the Stark County Women’s Hall of Fame.

“Mom always looked for the very best in people,” said Todd Bergmayr. “The glass was always half full in her eyes, never half empty. The family is very appreciative that the community has been good to her. She got what she gave. She had a great life. She really did.”

Calling hours are from 6 to 8 tonight at the Reed Funeral Home Canton Chapel and one hour prior to the service on Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Sunset Hills Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Lee’s name to the Crossroads Hospice of Northeast Ohio at 3743 Boettler Oaks Dr., Green, OH, 44685-6227.